Educational blog 3: Antonyms and Synonyms

There are so many different types of software available that I found the search for a specific one rather tedious . I didn't know what to choose from and then I came upon a site http://www.learningtoday.com/corporate/reading-games.asp and I appreciated its benefits but chose to still search for another site. I came across the site http://www.arcademicskillbuilders.com where I saw a similar software which I thought was ironic because as I kept running away from those types of sites, they came to me. Both software contained the same content on synonyms and antonyms, they both used the tutorial method with frogs but with a different activity to teach the students opposite and similar words. BF Skinner thought that students should spend more of their time performing skills or displaying the knowledge being taught and not just sitting absorbing information(Smaldino, et al, 2005). He also mentioned that each performance must somehow be followed by a reinforcer. The first software mentioned, does this by allowing students to learn what are synonyms and antonyms by using activities such as the frog jumping on the correct log with the correct words in a river. This is where the students not only sits and learns but get a chance to perform the task of matching these words. The other gives instruction where students have to capture the correct word using the frog's tongue . The both software are very exciting and give students the opportunity to learn a variety of different words; their similarities and differences. Students of all ages can use these software depending on the area in which they need instruction. It allows students to monitor time spent on tasks and promotes motivation and learning at the same time.Teachers can use these software to teach their students vocabulary and assist them in developing their learning skills. This website has opened my eyes to various ways of teaching this topic both individually and in groups which encourages social interaction(Vygotsky,1978): student-student and teacher-student interaction. The following youtube clip gives furthur information about second software: http://www.youtube.com/user/goletalisette